Quarterbacks Who Are Drafted No. 1 Overall Typically Deliver

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Up until last week, it was widely assumed that a quarterback wouldn’t be taken No. 1 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. The Tennessee Titans were on the clock, and were expected to take offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil.

But when the Los Angeles Rams successfully persuaded the Titans to part with the pick by offering what can only be described as a king’s ransom, it became clear that a quarterback will indeed be taken at No. 1 for the 12th time since the new millennium began in 2000.

Here’s a look at the 11 previous players.

2001 – Michael Vick – Atlanta Falcons

2002 – David Carr – Houston Texans

2003 – Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals

2004 – Eli Manning – San Diego Chargers

2005 – Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers

2007 – JaMarcus Russell – Oakland Raiders

2009 – Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

2010 – Sam Bradford – St. Louis Rams

2011 – Cam Newton – Carolina Panthers

2012 – Andrew Luck – Indianapolis Colts

2015 – Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Selecting a quarterback No. 1 overall is a somewhat new phenomenon in the NFL. In the 1990s, only four quarterbacks were taken in the slot.

1990 – Jeff George – Indianapolis Colts

1993 – Drew Bledsoe – New England Patriots

1998 – Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts

1999 – Tim Couch – Cleveland Browns

The increase is the result of a number of things, but we all know the rule changes that have rendered the NFL a pass-happy league is the true catalyst behind this trend.

Oftentimes NFL scholars, fans and media alike incorrectly deem selecting a quarterback at No. 1 overall to be a terrible decision. Sure, of the 11 aforementioned players to be selected since the turn of the millennium, none have won a Super Bowl for the team that drafted them. Manning has two rings, but he wasn’t drafted by the Giants.

However only two in that group turned out to be complete busts (Russell and Carr). Bradford has been an excellent player at times throughout his career, but simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Vick was one of the most exciting quarterbacks of all time prior to his legal troubles. Palmer put forth the best effort of his career in 2015 with the Arizona Cardinals, and had a great run in Cincinnati prior to suffering a number of injuries of his own.

Smith has never overwhelmed in the NFL, but has played at an above-average level more often than not. Stafford has had some amazing statistical campaigns thus far in his career, and the same can be said for Luck. And, as you know, Newton is the reigning MVP of the league.

The verdict is still out on Winston, but he flashed glimpses of brilliance at times as a rookie.

It will likely be Jared Goff or Carson Wentz that the Rams ultimately select, and history suggests whoever it is will turn out to be an above-average player. The NFL Draft is an absolute crapshoot at times, and the busts are always going to outshine the success stories; but the truth is, quarterbacks — relatively speaking — typically come through when drafted No. 1 overall.

If you knew 11 quarterbacks have been taken at No. 1 overall since 2000, you might just be an NFL trivia buff. And if you’re an NFL trivia buff, you must sign-up to FanClash (for FREE) here to win cash prizes. This evening, you can join the 2016 NFL Offseason Trivia Event. There’s $5K up for grabs between 5-10 p.m. EST, and you get three plays for $5.